Why do so many people in the martial arts hate kata/forms?

Question

I teach Kung Fu and Kempo Karate in upstate NY. Most of the students that I have had can't stand forms...Is this a phenomena. because I teach all of my material in a patient non judgemental way.....

Answer 1

I don't know, i guess people think it's useless because you don't see most MMA fighters doing them. Most people rather spar then do forms. I personally like doing forms, they really help me whenever i spar because i don't really ever have to think about what i'm doing while fighting.

Answer 2

I think that young people in particular hate kata because it requires a lot of concentration to learn and they don't understand why they need to perfrom it. Most young people are studying martial arts to learn how to fight and how to defend themselves and they see kata as a distraction from their goals. I know that middle aged and older people tend to have a greater appreciation for kata especially the people who study tai chi which is almost completely kata.

Answer 3

This is due to Bruce Lee, his followers, his lovers, MMA, UFC and all the other BS out there being passed off as "martial arts".

They get a wrong impression of kata and don't realize that everything they will ever need to protect themselves and those they love, is found in the kata.

One thing I do to keep the kids excited about learning the kata is to teach them simple effective bunkai from it and a couple of variations. This gives them the opportunity to see what kata is about.

I ask them if they like to read and tell them that kata is a book of techniques. It is in the form of a kata so they can never forget them.

Answer 4

You can't generalize the martial arts world, just because a few kids don't like them.

Answer 5

I think forms rock or I prefer them to kumite drills. I like sparing but not the drills.

With a kata I always win there are some I don't like but they rock

Answer 6

sorry but as far as gkr goes they dont it may be because they are difficult to master for biginners and advanced people alike.

Answer 7

I have heard many younger kids as well as older guys all complain about Katas.  I've heard them say that Katas are too much like patterns or templates and that they just don't feel right going through them.  I was wondering how long it would be before I got a chance to hear a wise teacher ask this question.  I think "reform" would be be good for all atemiwaza based arts in the modern day and age.  Rethinking forms/katas should have been tackled by soke councils years ago.  If atemiwaza based styles were more physical like say a few heavy bags in the dojo or some striking dummies or something that may just fix the problem.  I've been wondering how long it would take before councils rethink forms/katas since about 1995 my self.  Loss of interest is never a good thing for any art.  Kids want to be able to see their katas/forms at work in the dojo they're quickly getting tired of air I guess.  A standing "in place" kata/form on a heavy bag would fix that problem rather nicely I believe, but me saying it and a council approving something like that are two different things of course.  I don't think kids understand the imporatance of "Belt testing" these days and that may have alot to do with it as well.  The Kata is performed for "belt testing" is it not? if not that would definately be the problem.

Answer 8

Yeah, it took me a really long time before I realized that my kata was helping my sparring.  Until I recognized that recently, I couldn't stand doing kata.  I still don't enjoy classes where all we do is kata, because I like to mix it up, but I enjoy kata so much more now that I've started to understand it.

Answer 9

We hate them really???? I don't hate them but some of the really long things that I do that are about 30 steps long are ponitless and are really only for show. Otherwise most of them are fun, fun, fun, fun, fun!

Answer 10

i see this also.they feel it is pointless.not everyone is meant 4 martial arts training and now with the whole ufc craze we must accept almost anyone willing to pay.its sad but traditional martial arts are in need of recessitation

Answer 11

For the students it could just be hard to memorize all the movements. I believe there is a general fear that forms could lock you into a sepecific sequence of movements when the situation may require improvisation.

Personally, I think that can be avoided with free sparring and shadow boxing or bagwork.

I like all kinds of training and my favorite forms are the Xing Yi Five elements and Shaolin 5 animals. The 5 animals is a fantastic workout.

Answer 12

I have been in martial arts for almost 25 years now and when I first began I hated kata as well. It took some time and understanding what kata is for before I started to enjoy working in this field of martial arts. Karate, Kung Fu, Taekwon Do or what ever style you practice can never be mastered without understanding of kata.

We must understand when the arts were created the masters seen kata as having a purpose (to train the body and the mind) and most of the time their lives depended on it. Now martial arts has become a form of entertainment (i.e. MMA competitions) so for the most part the students life doesn't really depend on it, unless it comes to self defense. AHHH! This is where kata really comes into play and it takes someone of advanced knowledge to unlock the secrets of self defense in kata. So there lies the answer to why most hate this area. The lack of dedicated students to the arts is really why the interest in kata is so low. Everyone is more concerned about fighting and not martial arts true purpose, development of the mind, body and one's ability to defend theirselves.